Building trust and credibility – when you need it the most. Jeff Chatterton is the owner of Checkmate Public Affairs, the issues management firm that does one thing and one thing only: establish trust and credibility in high-risk and crisis situations. Checkmate is located in Ontario, Canada, but has clients across the globe: When a hot air balloon went down in Tanzania, Chatterton dealt with media, regulatory officials and state departments on-scene in the Serengeti. Two years later, sales for that particular company had INCREASED 29%. It’s proof that it’s not that bad things happen to you – it’s how you respond to those events that determines trust and credibility. When a major insurance company was the victim of theft, Chatterton handled communications as they notified customers that their identity may be at risk. The insurance company notified over 10,000 customers – and didn’t lose a single one. When 4,000 people became ill drinking municipal tap water, Chatterton was on the ground handling the response. Today, that municipality hosts a centre for drinking water excellence. When a major children’s author was forced to admit his cocaine addiction, Chatterton handled communications in a way that generated public sympathy for the author. Two weeks after the announcement, a story-telling tour generated record crowds. Chatterton is especially active in travel and tourism markets, with clients on five continents. He is routinely asked to speak at tourism conferences internationally.